PART 1DESCRIPTIVE

RESEARCHWHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, HOW AND HOW MANY

THE DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCHdescribes what exists and may help to uncover new facts and meaning. This approach is used to describe variables rather than to test a predicted relationship between variables.

Polit D.F., Hungler B.P. (1999) Nursing Research: Principles and Methods (6th Ed.) Philadelphia, Lippincott

Set to seek out accurate information and adequate descriptions of activities, objects, processes and persons.

Allison, B., Race P. (2004) The Students’ Guide to Dissertation Preparation and Theses. (2nd Ed.) RoutledgeFalmer. London

devoted to the gathering of information about prevailing conditions or situations for the purpose of description and interpretation.

Dr. Y.P. Aggarwal (2008). Statistics of Education. (2nd Ed.) Sterling . Delhi.

NATURE OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH• It is the best methods for collecting information to

demonstrate relationships and describe the world as it exists and are often done before an experiment to know what specific things to manipulate and include in an experiment

Bickman, L., & Rog, D.J. (1998). Handbook of Applied Social Research Methods. Newbury Park, CA.

• because it can answer “what is” and “what was” the nature of a situation as it exists at the time of the study and to explore the causes of particular phenomena through the collection of census data.

Travers R. (1978) Introduction to Educational Research. (4th ed.). McMillan. London

• useful when it is impossible to test and measure the large population which is the subject of quantitative types of experimentation.

NATURE OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH

• descriptive research may be more analytic. It often focuses on a particular variable or factor.

• low on the "control or manipulation of research context" scale. It is non-intrusive and deals with naturally occurring phenomena.

http://linguistics.byu.edu/faculty/henrichsenl/ResearchMethods/RM_2_05.html

• The answer in a descriptive research can no way be definitive.

https://explorable.com/descriptive-research-design

AIMS OF A DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH• provides a knowledge base which can be a

springboard for other types of quantitative research methods because it maps the terrain of a specific phenomenon.

• contribute in the formation of principles and generalization in behavioral sciences contribute in the establishment of standard norms of conduct, behavior, or performance.reveal problems or abnormal conditions ; and if correctly interpreted, the data gathered can provide useful insight which may lead to hypothesis – formation.

Travers R. (1978) Introduction to Educational Research. (4th ed.). McMillan. London

TYPES OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH AND EXAMPLES• Observational Method - animal and human

behavior is closely observed which can be in a natural environment or in a laboratory

Is Food Intake Associated with Pre-Adolescent Obesity? An Observational Study in Metro Manila, Philippines.*

• Case Study Method - involves an in-depth study of an individual or group of individuals and is often leads to testable hypotheses which allows for a study of a rare phenomena. 

Water Pollution Control - A Guide to the Use of Water Quality Management Principles: A Case Study of the Pasig River**

Jackson, S.L. (2009).  Research Methods and Statistics:  A Critical Thinking Approach 3rd edition.  Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

*http://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ajcn.2009.107.119**http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/resourcesquality/wpccasestudy3.pdf

TYPES OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH AND EXAMPLES• Causal – Comparative – describes the extent of

relationship between two or more variables.Language Learning Strategies of Students at Different Levels of Speaking Proficiency - examines the use of language learning strategies by high school students when speaking in class, and factors affecting such strategy use.http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/edq/article/viewFile/2131/2049

• Correlational Method - Explores relationships that exist among variables; sometimes predictions are made on the basis of the relationships.

Relationship Between Dietary Pattern and Body Mass Index Among Primary School Children

http://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ajcn.2009.107.119

TYPES OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH AND EXAMPLES• Developmental Studies - the systematic study

of designing, developing, and evaluating instructional programs, processes

Terman Study of the Gifted – began in 1921 and is still running today

Wikipedia.com

• Survey Method - participants answer questions administered through interviews or questionnaires.  After participants answer the questions, researchers describe the responses given.

A Survey on the Filipino’s Acceptance of the K to 12 curriculum, SWS June 2011 – March 2012.

Official Gazette . http://www.gov.ph/

ADVANTAGES OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH• gives researchers the opportunity to use both

quantitative and qualitative data in order to find data and characteristics about the population or phenomenon that is being studied,• The data collection for descriptive research

presents a number of advantages as it can provide a very multifaceted approach. Data can include case studies, observation or surveys and give several angles on the information.

http://science.blurtit.com/316422/what-are-some-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-descriptive-research

DISADVANTAGES OF DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH• Confidentiality - Confidentiality is the primary

weakness of descriptive research. Often subjects are not truthful as they feel the need to tell the researcher what they think the researcher wants to hear.

• Objectivity and error - Descriptive research also presents the possibility for error and subjectivity. For example, when a researcher designs a questionnaire, questions are predetermined and prescriptive. Furthermore, the study may contain errors, as the researcher may record what she wants to hear and ignore data that does not conform to the research project's hypothesis.

http://science.blurtit.com/316422/what-are-some-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-descriptive-research

CONDUCTING A DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCHStep One: Define a Problem to ResearchStep Two: Write a Research Question and Sub-questionsStep Three: Design and Develop a Survey/QuestionnaireStep Four: Create a Cover LetterStep Five: Select a SampleStep Six: Pilot the SurveyStep Seven: Administer the SurveyStep Eight: Analyze Data

https://www.aea267.k12.ia.us/system/assets/uploads/files/1470/descriptiveresearch.pdf

PART 2CORRELATIONAL

RESEARCHWHAT, WHY AND WHAT IF

NATURE OF CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH• Sometimes called “associational research” • It is a more complicated from of descriptive research• Collects data and investigates to what degree is the relationship between two or more quantifiable variables without any attempt of manipulation.• The relationship between variables are can be describe using the correlation coefficient (the most common of which is the Pearson Product Moment of Correlation Coefficient).*

http://www.unm.edu/~marley/methppt/fall07/ppt/day10.pdf*http://stattrek.com/statistics/correlation.aspx

AIMS OF CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH• Used to either explore “the extents to which two

or more variables co-vary, that is, where changes in one variable are reflected in changes in the other” • when purpose of the study is to predict certain

outcomes in one variable from another variable that serves as the predictor.Creswell, J. (2008). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and

Qualitative Research. New Jersey: Pearson: Merrill Prentice Hall.

TYPES OF CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH• Used to either explore “the extents to which two or more variables co-vary, that is, where changes in one variable are reflected in changes in the other” • when purpose of the study is to predict certain outcomes in one variable from another variable that serves as the predictor.

Creswell, J. (2008). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research.

New Jersey: Pearson: Merrill Prentice Hall.

TYPES OF VARIABLES (PREDICTION DESIGN)• PREDICTOR VARIABLE – used to make a forecast or

prediction• CRITERION VARIABLE : the anticipated outcome that is

being predicted• Predicting Satisfaction in Physical Education Classes: A

Study Based on Self-Determination Theory*• Predicting Success for Virtual School Students: Putting

Research-based Models into Practice**Creswell, J. (2008). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research.

New Jersey: Pearson: Merrill Prentice Hall.*http://benthamscience.com/

**http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/winter114/roblyer114.html

TYPES OF VARIABLES (PREDICTION DESIGN)• PREDICTOR VARIABLE – used to make a forecast or

prediction• CRITERION VARIABLE : the anticipated outcome that is

being predicted• Predicting Satisfaction in Physical Education Classes: A

Study Based on Self-Determination Theory*• Predicting Success for Virtual School Students: Putting

Research-based Models into Practice**Creswell, J. (2008). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research.

New Jersey: Pearson: Merrill Prentice Hall.*http://benthamscience.com/

**http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/winter114/roblyer114.html

STEPS IN CORRELATIONAL STUDIES

• Step One: Selection of the problem• Step Two: Selection of the sample and the tools• Step Three: Design and procedure• Step Four: Interpretation of the Findings

Creswell, J. (2008). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research.

New Jersey: Pearson: Merrill Prentice Hall.

OTHER SOURCES:• http://psych.csufresno.edu/psy144/Content/Design/Nonexperimental/

observation.html

• http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.mu.ac.in/myweb_test/Research%2520Methadology-Paper-3/Chapter-5.pdf

• http://ori.hhs.gov/education/products/sdsu/res_des1.htm

• https://www.aea267.k12.ia.us/system/assets/uploads/files/1470/descriptiveresearch.pdf